Old Stump Brewing Co.™

Old Stump Brewery

We hope you aren’t getting tired of hearing us say “we’re making progress”, but we are. So here’s what’s happened lately, the equipment is in it’s final resting place, all anchored down per CA seismic codes (if there’s an earthquake around here you all can come over and hang out with us, if your not already here because you’ll be safe here). Our Glycol system is done and pressure tested, and the electrical is in full swing as we got things sorted out with the manufacturer, the cold room is almost up and running (probably by this weekend it will be) and did I mention our glass front entrance has glass and is done (looks pretty awesome if you haven’t driven by lately). So as you see, the check list is getting smaller by the day which means we hope to be brewing in the next couple (few) weeks. Ahh I can smell the grain in the mash already.

As always, I can’t thank our friends and family enough for all the volunteer work they have provided over the past few months, helping us build our dreams. Oh and by the way, they have also done a great job on our test batches quality control, ummm did I say volunteer? anyway really good job, thanks!

I can’t believe it’s been over a month since my last entry, time is just flying by, partly because we are working so hard at opening our doors that we’re loosing track of time altogether, albeit we are making great progress on all fronts. We’re also brewing for our coming out event here locally at the Claremont Blues & Brews event later in June. Look for us serving our brews at the Grove vintage clothing store right next door to Yogurtland on Indian Hill.

I must thank everyone that keeps stopping by the brewery checking out our progress, and showing us their support. It’s been overwhelming and it really warms our hearts that so many of you are behind our project, Thank You! It really means a lot to us.

Now for the latest, our “front door” (for the tasting room) is half way in and it looks great, our trench drain which you can see us digging in the last blog is in and done amongst other various plumbing items (check that off the list, that was a ton of work and doesn’t look like much) so it appears we’re on the home stretch, now our focus is moving on to the finishing details and final hookups getting all the equipment up and running and then . . . yes your thinking the same thing we are . . . we’re brewing! and that’s what all this hard work is about brewing our version of craft beer at it’s finest and sharing it with all of you.

Work continues, as you can see the precision trench work, it’s not for the faint of heart, it takes a steady hand, nerves of steel and many hours of video gaming to have the coordination to master the multitude of levers. However, I’m none of those, so I’m glad I didn’t brake anything, but the job got done with countless members of our family, Thank You all for that.

I’m not sure what all this has to do with brewing beer (that’s all I wanted), but they keep telling us to push on and eventually we’ll be making our amazing Old Stump craft beer and you all can come and enjoy it with us. We’ve had more and more of you stop by and say hello in the recent weeks, we really appreciate the support and can’t wait to give back to you all. Cheers!

As we’re becoming more and more of a brewery, we started hearing that no one really knew exactly where we’re located, therefore, we felt it was time to hang out our sign in front of the building just to let everyone know where we work, swet, brew, sleep. . . well you get the point. So when your driving along Bonita Ave. on the West side of Garey Ave. keep your eyes out for us, we’re on the North side of the street and now you’ll see our new temporary sign while we ready The Old Stump Brewery for what it will do best, create handcrafted amazing beer, and provide a place to hang out and just enjoy life with like minded friends.

As you can see we have our noses to the grind stone, because we’re getting real thirsty for some Old Stump brew. We just built our cold room and hung the glycol lines with drops, our chiller arrived (right on time thanks G&D Chillers) so that will be installed shortly, on top of all that we’re supposed to get our pumps and control panels this coming week. With all that work going on our brewing has really taken a hit, Old Stump Brew is in short supply right now (don’t panic) we’re fitting in some brewing time this week, after all that’s what we do and why we’re doing all this.

Things keep progressing forward, most of our brewing equipment showed up and it’s starting to look more like the real deal, a brewery. We’re now working overtime trying to get our doors open so we can share our happy little place with all of you. Follow us on Twitter or facebook and let us now you’re out there, you can even sign in on our guest book on the website and stay posted on the latest happenings and be part of the initial few that could receive an invitation to one of our VIP pre-opening events

I can’t believe another month has gone by since the last post, time is just flying by as we are in full construction mode. Since the last post we’ve cut some concrete, excavated the new footings & a pad out back, completed all the metal rebar work and poured the new concrete back into the excavated sights. It seems a little crazy, because after all that work, the place looks about like it did when we started. However, we’re now ready the anchor down the brew house and tanks, which by the way are showing up in just a few days, this is becoming a reality! In fact our cold room showed up a few day ago so that’s ready to be constructed, remind me to add that to our list of things to do. Now all the detail work begins, connecting, finishing and finally making sure everything actually works and there’s a lot of that. Oh and then finally. . . . the beer!

And finally it was time to pour the concrete (I wished it was time to pour the beer) unfortunately I was over ruled and the concrete started flowing.

So here we are, back were we stared, at least so it appears, however, we’re ready to anchor some equipment after the concrete cures. Another step closer to brewing our beer and spreading happiness to all that will have us. For now just know we’re hard at work on the next steps to getting the Old Stump brewery up and running Cheers!

Hi All, and Happy Holiday’s, it’s a few days before Christmas and construction is in full swing and the reality is, our Christmas holidays will be filled with joy and happiness, openig presents, drinking Holiday Ale and . . .oh oops, I meant, long hours and late nights of construction, but I will say we’re loving it. Building a dream might be hard, but it’s the kind of hard that we really enjoy. On the actual construction, our 3″ steel gas line (weighing in at well over 100 lbs per 21′ section) is in, and when I say in, I mean 20′ up suspended from the ceiling. Which was no easy feat and I will say I’m very proud that it’s up. We also have the water lines in place and working on electrical as well as the glycol line hangers and lines.

On the other hand our most exciting news is, our brew house and tanks are scheduled to arrive in about 3 weeks (3 weeks early)! Thank you Alpha Brewing Operations. They’re our equipment supplier and have busted their hump to get us our equipment ahead of schedule, and in our expanding industry that’s no easy feat, yeaha! The remaining equipment like chiller, cold room and such will actuatlly get here and be installed before the brew house shows up (if all goes as planned). Here is another peak at our brew house under construction, it’s really starting to look like the real thing.

So for the the brews, we just finished up another “Shot in the Dark” Black IPA and our always asked for (especially by the ladies) Honey Pale ale, which is really starting to attract a following. Thanks again for all the Face Book friends, the family is really growing, and if you get a change leave us a message on our website guest book, we love your thoughts and input. So from all of us here at Old Stump Brewery, we wish you all, Happy Holidays and a Happy as well as Safe New Year. Cheers!

For our latest post I’d like to give everyone a little sneak peak of our new brewing equipment. It’s still in the early stages of fabrication, so it doesn’t look like much yet, but I’ll tell you, the excitement is definitely growing here at the brewery. We’ll hopefully (keep your fingers crossed) be brewing on this equipment by February and turning out the hand crafted small batch brews we’ve been raving about.

While all this is going on we’ve also been working on the construction within the brewery and hopefully all the pieces of this master plan will soon come together and merged into one, and then we can call it a brewery and make some freakin beer!! Finally doing what we set out to do over two years ago – Chasing our Passion and our Dream.

As for the actual brewing that’s been going on, we’re finishing up our “Shot in the Dark” Black IPA which was a big hit last winter, we’ve modified the recipe a bit so we’re anxious to taste the new concoction, it should be an awesome blend of malts and Hops and Hops (oh did I say, and Hops!!).

That’s it for now, I hope your supporting the local breweries, as we are, they’re a great group of people and artisans – Happy Holidays from all of us here at Old Stump.